What Is the Difference Between Matthew 11:14 and 17:11-12?
1) Direct Answer
Matthew 11:14 identifies John the Baptist as the “Elijah” for that hour to forerun the Lord’s first coming. Matthew 17:11–12 shows both truths: Elijah “shall first come, and restore all things” (future), and “Elijah is come already” (present then, in John), whom they rejected.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Matthew 11:14: “If you will receive it, this is Elijah which was to come.” That’s Jesus unveiling John’s role to those with ears to hear (v.15).
- Luke 1:17 says John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” matching the first part of Malachi 4:5–6 and also Malachi 3:1, the messenger before the Lord’s face.
- Matthew 17:11: “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things”—that looks ahead to a work of restoration. Then 17:12: “But I say unto you, that Elijah is come already,” and the disciples understood He spoke of John (v.13). So Jesus points to a present fulfillment in John and a still-future restoration.
- John 1:21 shows John was not literally Elijah the Tishbite; he bore the anointing and ministry pattern.
- Acts 3:21 speaks of the “times of restitution of all things,” which matches “restore all things” in Matthew 17:11, pointing to the end-time phase before the Lord’s return.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- John prepared a people and pointed to the Lamb (John 1:29). He did not “restore all things.” Therefore, Matthew 17:11 cannot be exhausted by John. It promises a future Elijah-work of restoration.
- So Matthew 11:14 = John identified as Elijah for the first coming. Matthew 17:11–12 = both the recognition of John already come and the prophecy of an Elijah ministry yet to come to restore all things before Christ’s appearing.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” You see, the same God who sent Elijah’s spirit to forerun the first coming has promised a restoring work before the second. That’s the mystery held in those two passages.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The Lamb and the Dove
57-0325 §76
...hundred. All right. Let's start out with O-1, then. See, one to a hundred. Look in your little card, little something smaller than that. Any newcomers whose got a O on it. And let's just line up a few, now. Right quick. Who has number 1? Would you stand up over here, or raise up, or raise your hand, or something? Are you sure you give one to a hundred? Is there no O-1? All right. We'll start from somewhere else then. What? Oh, I'm sorry ... sorry. All right. Lady, come over here. O-number-2. All right. Over here,...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 2:E-62
Now in Matthew 16:28, prefacing Matthew 17:1-13, Jesus had said, "... There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." And the three apostles did see just that--the order of His second coming. They saw Him transfigured there on the mountain top. His raiment was blazing white and His face shone like the sun at its zenith. And there as He appeared, stood Moses and Elijah on either side. That is exactly how He is coming again. Truly Elijah will first com...
Thirsting for Life
57-0728 §71
Prayer card 11, 14 and 15 is missing. Prayer card 11? No? 14? 14 is there? Good. All right. What was the other one? 15? It's prayer card, what? 11? You got it? Haven't got it. Prayer card 11. Have you got prayer card 11, lady? Here comes the lady now. All right. Now, how many more prayer cards is there out? Let's see your hand, people that's got prayer cards. There's thirty or forty, fifty yet in the building, that's got prayer cards. All right. I don't know how we're going to get through this line. I don't know. I...
Questions and Answers
61-0112 §91
QUESTION: "Are there two different types of Bible tongues? Is there a difference in tongues spoken in private prayer, and in the church where interpretation is required? On the day of Pentecost the tongues were understood by men of different nations; but in I Corinthians 14:2, unknown tongues spoke unto God, not unto men. I Corinthians 13:1 indicates to such men (C-o-r, I guess that's Corinthians 13) to such men and the others of angels. Oh, yes. See? Now, brother, ever who you are, you've answered yourself here. S...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 4:E-101
The Holy Spirit In Every Age Revelation 2:11, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." There is not one church age where this verse is not mentioned. Every single age has the same admonition to the people of every age. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith." But it is absolutely impossible for all men to hear what the Spirit says to the different ages. I Corinthians 2:6-16, "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world,...